The water level of Angat Dam, which supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirement, is now at 190.85 meters, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said on Monday, April 4.

NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David disclosed that from 195 meters, Angat Dam’s water level has now decreased to 190.85 meters, which is just 10 meters above its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

“Para sa kaalaman ng mga kababayan natin, 190.85 meters ang level ng Angat Dam at masasabi po natin na mas mababa po ito kumpara natin sa mga nakaraang taon (To inform everyone, Angat Dam’s water level has reached 190.85 meters which is lower from the previous years’ water levels),” David said over Laging Handa briefing.

Although this might seem alarming, David assured the public that the agency’s cloud seeding operations bore fruit and slowed down Angat Dam’s water level decreasing rate.

“Itong cloud seeding operations ay nagdudulot ng magandang result sa kadahilanang bumabagal po yung pagbaba ng lebel ng Angat Dam, at nung isang araw nga po ay tumaas na nga po ng konti (The cloud seeding operations lowered the decreasing rate of Angat Dam’s water level and in fact, just recently it slightly increased),” he said.

In an earlier statement, NWRB revealed that it has coordinated with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Power Corporation (NPC), and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to boost the dam’s water level.

The said agencies continuously implement measures such as reducing allocation for domestic and irrigation needs; reactivation of deep wells for the use of MWSS; cloud seeding operations; and maximizing the use of water treatment plants owned by Maynilad and Manila Water.

The NWRB and the NIA have conducted different water management strategies, including shallow tube wells to reduce irrigation water usage.

On the other hand, the MWSS has implemented cloud seeding operations in Angat Watershed and Bustos Dam in Bulacan and La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.

David said that if the water level continues to decrease, Angat Dam’s water level will reach the minimum operating level of 180 meters by May. He advised the public to continuously conserve water as NWRB and other concerned agencies conduct ways to increase the dam’s water level.